Clothing shopping in New York City
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Dressing Room
The Dressing Room is a creative hybrid that’s equal parts indie fashion boutique and low-key neighborhood bar. On the first floor, you’ll find a rotating mix of local and emerging designers with pieces ranging from clever graphic T-shirts to flouncy black dresses and wildly patterned knits; while downstairs is a small selection of vintage clothes. Adjoining the space is a casual bar with a regular lineup of DJs, film screenings and shopping parties. The drink-shop combo can be quite handy for some couples who can’t quite resolve their disparate interests in looking at clothes versus swilling martinis.
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Flying A
Sporting a logo that bears a passing resemblance to those flying wings of Aerosmith, this Danish-owned store offers a little something for both rock-and-rollers and SoHo fashion mavens. You’ll find vintage pieces (weathered cowboy boots, candy-colored ’70s dresses, whisper-thin button-downs) as well as new apparel – jeans, graphic T-shirts and slim-fitting dresses. Books, watches, stylish air-tote bags, sunglasses and other accessories provide for more fun browsing.
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Town Shop
Your bra doesn’t fit! No, really – statistics say that 80% of women are wearing an ill-fitting bra, and here at the more-than-a-century-old Town Shop, the attentive saleswomen want to help you. They’ll hustle you into a private fitting room and bring you a selection of pretty, quality bras, and not let you leave until they find you one that fits properly. You’ll also find great lingerie and sleepwear, and alterations are free.
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Olive & Bette’s
Boasting four locations about town, Olive & Bette’s is a cheery spot with candy-striped wallpaper and a good selection of youthful designs. Favorite labels among the teen to thirty-something shoppers include James Perse, Theory, Splendid and Nanette Lepore. First-time visitors sometimes complain about the store attitude.
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Odin
Named after the mighty Norse god, Odin offers a bit of magic for men seeking a new look. The large boutique carries stylish downtown labels like Phillip Lim, Band of Outsiders and Edward, and is a great place to browse for up-and-coming designers. Other eye candy at the minimalist store includes Comme des Garçons wallets, sleek sunglasses, Sharps grooming products and Taschen coffee-table books.
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Universal Gear
A more accurate name might be ‘Chelsea Gear, ’ as the place is bursting with all that’s de rigueur for handsome Chelsea boys and wannabes. Here’s where you’ll find cute-boy staples like G-Star and Diesel denim, pouch-heightening underwear by 2 (x) ist and C-IN2, plus swimwear, jackets, shoes and accessories from Ben Sherman bags to D&G watches.
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Built by Wendy
Hidden out of reach from the SoHo masses, Built by Wendy is a cozy boutique where sweaters, dresses and men’s and women’s denim sport a classic, flattering cut with interesting details. You can also pick up owner-designer Wendy Mullin’s clever sewing book called Sew U or one of her ultrasuede guitar straps. A second branch is in Williamsburg (46 N 6th St).
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Rag & Bone
Born in 2002, Rag & Bone has become one of the hot new labels over the years, earning praise for fashionable, versatile basics designed to last. This branch is in the West Village. The SoHo store (119 Mercer St) , opened in 2009, is their latest outpost with fine denim, tailored blazers, cashmere coats and pencil skirts amid the artful and minimalist interior.
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Rag & Bone
Born in 2002, Rag & Bone has become one of the hot new labels over the years, earning praise for fashionable, versatile basics designed to last. The SoHo store, opened in 2009, is their latest outpost with fine denim, tailored blazers, cashmere coats and pencil skirts amid the artful and minimalist interior.
reviewed
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Dom Knigi Sankt Peterburg
in Brighton Beach, signs in Cyrillic cater to many locals born in the former Soviet Union, mostly Ukrainian Jews. Sidewalk stands along Brighton Beach Ave sell fur hats and tinned caviar. At Dom Knigi Sankt Peterburg you can buy ironic Soviet T-shirts and matrushka dolls.
reviewed
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Love Brigade Co-Op
Love Brigade showcases the work of more than two dozen independent designers from all corners of the globe. The collection ranges from the classic to the futuristic, sometimes delving into new territory; prices generally seem reasonable. A small, frowning dachshund is the boutique’s mascot.
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Mayle
Lush fabrics and classic cuts give the clothes at this Nolita hideaway a vintage feel - but nothing could be further from the truth. They're made on-site with the best modern materials. The big, boxy coats, straight wool skirts and tight-waisted frocks are one-of-a-kind, just like the store.
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Niketown New York
Leave Gotham and enter Niketown, an athletic wonderland where you’ll find the full line of Nike products, including sneakers, clothing and gizmos for every sport. You can even test-drive your footwear on the in-store treadmills, making shopping even more fun than it already is.
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Built by Wendy
Built by Wendy is a cozy boutique where sweaters, dresses and men’s and women’s denim sport a classic, flattering cut with interesting details. You can also pick up owner-designer Wendy Mullin’s clever sewing book called Sew U or one of her ultrasuede guitar straps.
reviewed
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DDC Lab
A cool boutique for the latest flourishes of urban style, DDC Lab sells a range of nicely designed slim-fitting wares including sleek limited-edition sneakers, superbly comfortable T-shirts, leather jackets and peacoats as well as rubbery Nooka belts and other accessories.
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Uniqlo
The enormous three-story emporium owes its popularity to attractive apparel at discount prices. You’ll find Japanese denim, Mongolian cashmere, graphic T-shirts, smart-looking skirts and endless racks of colorful ready-to-wear – with most things at the sub-$100 mark.
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Original Levi’s Store
Stock up on all your favorite Levi’s jeans here – 501 button-fly, super-low boot-cut, zip-fly straight-leg cords – plus check out the great selection of Western shirts, tees, sweaters, jackets and always-evolving new styles for both men and women.
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Original Levi’s Store
Stock up on all your favorite Levi’s jeans here – 501 button-fly, super-low boot-cut, zip-fly straight-leg cords – plus check out the great selection of Western shirts, tees, sweaters, jackets and always-evolving new styles for both men and women.
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Clothingline/SSS Sample Sales
Each week this Garment District space sells pieces from a different batch of designers – both small and well-known labels, with markdowns of up to 75%. The Theory sale is rated highly, with other weeks featuring Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, Ben Sherman and others. Check the website to see what’s on the block while you’re in town.
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Olive & Bette's
Boasting four locations about town, Olive & Bette’s is a cheery spot with candy-striped wallpaper and a good selection of youthful designs. Favorite labels among the teen to thirty-something shoppers include James Perse, Theory, Splendid and Nanette Lepore.
reviewed
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Luca Luca
Italian designer Orlandi Luca achieves what so few can: sultry, sensual clothes that can be worn by women of all ages. Famous for glittery, flowing evening gowns that cling in all the right places, Luca Luca also has a stellar line of separates for day.
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American Apparel
Pick up American classics made with a conscience - no sweatshop labor goes into the making of these clothes. Everything is done with above-board in-house production. Sweats, hoodies, underwear and other apparel available in a range of colors.
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Rebecca Taylor
On a block full of fun and funky clothes, this boutique's peek-a-boo designs stand out. Flirty and girlish frocks, swishy skirts and no-cling pants are big crowd pleasers - half of neighboring Nolita is dressed by Ms Taylor.
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Banana Republic
Good ol’ Banana Republic sells its slick, stylish staid wear in no less than a dozen Manhattan stores; check the website for locations. This branch, at Rockefeller Center, has one of the bigger selections.
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A Cheng
Delicate clothes that fall on just the right side of dainty swing on the racks at Cheng's relaxed East Village shop - a simple but welcoming place that perfectly showcases her practical and pretty designs.
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